49ers Shock Fans with Deebo Samuel Trade – The Calculated Move Behind This Blockbuster Deal

The San Francisco 49ers have just pulled off one of the most shocking trades of the 2025 offseason, sending Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders after granting him permission to seek a trade. For 49ers fans, this is a gut punch — Samuel wasn’t just a key piece of the offense for the past six seasons, he was a unique weapon in Kyle Shanahan’s creative system.

Surprisingly, former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman, who played for the 49ers from 2018 to 2020, believes this trade could actually benefit his old team. According to Sherman, parting ways with Samuel might help “simplify” the offense, freeing the team from the constant pressure of keeping too many stars happy.

“Sometimes you have too many mouths to feed and only one football,” Sherman explained on The Richard Sherman Podcast. “You’re trying to get the ball to Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo. Now you’ve also got rookie Ricky Pearsall — it’s impossible to make everyone happy.”

Sherman pointed out that both quarterback Brock Purdy and head coach Kyle Shanahan have been juggling this issue for some time. In fact, Samuel himself publicly voiced his frustration last season about not getting enough targets in the passing game.

No More Deebo, New Blueprint for 49ers

Sherman believes losing Samuel might actually be a case of addition by subtraction for San Francisco. Without Deebo, the offense can finally zero in on its primary playmakers instead of constantly trying to split the pie evenly.

“I think this means Kittle gets more involved,” Sherman said. “Kittle is one of the best tight ends in the game, but there were stretches where the 49ers barely used him. Shanahan definitely realized that.”

With Deebo out of the picture, McCaffrey and Aiyuk are also likely to see a bump in targets, while Shanahan can focus on building a more streamlined, efficient offense.

“Sometimes less is more. This simplifies everything — you’re no longer forced to design plays just to keep everyone happy. You can just run the offense the way it’s meant to be run,” Sherman added.

2025: New Opportunities for Both Sides

Of course, losing Samuel leaves a big hole in the 49ers’ offense. After all, No. 19 was one of the league’s most dangerous YAC (Yards After Catch) monsters. Still, Sherman is convinced the 49ers can turn the page and embrace a new era built on clarity and efficiency — free from the unspoken locker room pressure to keep every star involved.

On the flip side, the Commanders are undoubtedly thrilled to add a dynamic weapon like Samuel to their arsenal. How much of a difference will he make in Washington? And what will the 49ers’ offense look like without him?

One blockbuster deal. Two teams forever changed.
The 2025 season for both the 49ers and the Commanders just got a whole lot more interesting.